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Website Portraits

When you are starting a new business or reinventing a old business, you’ll want website portraits for several uses. Great quality is important because you are representing your business and how professional your images are will influence how you and your business are perceived. Katherine was updating her consulting business. Her work is about leadership, change management and the ageing workforce.

Headshot

A professional headshot to show the world for LinkedIn. A close up that has a pop of color, great lighting and your eyes in the upper third will give you the best look. She is posed leaning a little forward to add to her friendly look.

Different Images for Website Portraits

For her home page a three quarter pose cropped at mid thigh was appropriate. See how the background changes tone just a little to match the tone of her clothes, but the color is the same for a consistent look.

Katherine needed photos for speaking engagements. We had fun while she pretended to talk to an audience. Notice the change in scarf is more vibrant for speaking audiences and the scarf tucked in worked better for LinkedIn.

Katherine’s about page she wanted something that was more casual. This engaging image came about because she was relaxed and comfortable in the studio. The image is beautiful and I’d want to know all about her! Here is her facebook page if you want to find out more. https://www.facebook.com/50PlusatWork – an online community to discuss success with an aging workforce.

“Barbara was able to capture various aspects of my work personality and convey them in beautiful, professional compositions.” Katherine

Branding your image—a portfolio of cohesive publicity portraits

How we came up with the ideas

Jeff presented me with the idea of creating multiple publicity portraits for a new book jacket, advertising and social media to brand him as unique in his field. He is a global business executive of thirty years. His published book is called “China, Capturing the Prize”

For me getting started is always a collaboration. We sit and talk and images come to me. Then I try out the idea on my client. Sometimes they like it or just a part and we keep on going. I find that the message is key and then, as a creative photographer I can then start the creative process. As we chatted about this exciting and creative project we kept clarifying the image he wanted to project. The ideas we came up with would present Jeff as an intellectual and engaging person.

The photography session

Jeff is a world traveler so I suggested bringing props such as books, writing implements and objects from his travels to the photography session. After thinking about it all week and came up with some more creative ideas. I imagined an oriental carpet as a backdrop and an interesting chair.

The day before there were changes to the original ideas for the portrait.Jeff called to say he was moving and everything was packed away! Now what? I had to create multiple images just based on his personality and the backgrounds in the studio. I had to rethink everything! I didn’t have any props.

It all worked out. His personality was relaxed and we did get the great images for publicity he needed and the New York publishers were very happy.

Here are some samples of publicity portraits from the session:

The formal portrait usually has a conservative expression, I usually start with that so my client has a good chance to warm up. Since he was so relaxed, I got a smile right away. I chose a dark conservative background to go with the suit and a pop of color near his face. I’m always looking for visual clues to support the message. His pose and holding glasses seems intellectual but relaxed. All of the elements work together. As a change up we decided on a lighter suit with a light harmonious background and a light mood.

How I create different looks

These poses presents him as a casual, thoughtful, and engaging intellectual book author. I’m always working to draw out the personality. The background is a little darker but neutral to keep the focus on him. The blank space in the photograph could be used to add text. Part of what I do is create the different looks with clothing. When I have many outfits to choose from the results are varied and much more cohesive. He is holding the first book he wrote, establishing himself as a published writer. For variety I created an image of him as the college professor and speaker.

I love the challenge of multiple looks for publicity portraits. These different looks were achieved with clothing, backgrounds, poses, lighting and expression.

How to get great children’s expressions

One of the most important parts of a portrait is the children’s expressions! You can have a perfect portrait and a so-so expression and the portrait falls flat. If there is a great expression any problems or issues fade into the background.

“It was amazing how many looks you captured of Rachael! You captured her essence in all of the expressions, her smiles, goofiness and her serious side.” Melissa

Warming up

When I start the session we are just warming up, so I’ll ask them to do a few things and see what happens. One thing I didn’t do is ask her to smile. If you do that you get a grin that does not reach the child’s eyes. There are many tricks up my sleeve to get children’s expressions. Sometimes I have to do some prompting in the posing. I say ambiguous things like “stand sideways or Can you stand on your toes?” Then, they do what they do naturally and the portrait doesn’t look stiff or posed.

Tricks to get the best children’s expressions

In addition to a natural pose I’m waiting for the expression. While they are thinking about what I said they try to do it and then the finale when they have it accomplished. It’s the child’s reaction I’m looking for. While they are doing those things you get all the expressions you need. I have to admit that sometimes I do act a little silly or ask them to do silly things. I might ask them to lean and lean and keep leaning until they laugh. We play a little and see what develops naturally.. If you get a series of many expressions you like, you could use them in a framed collage.

I’m looking for a serious expression. Sometimes asking them not to smile gets you a whole host of other children’s expressions! Eventually I get something where they are just looking straight into the camera. These relaxed expressions are some of my favorites because it seems like you can see right into their soul. These portraits make great wall displays because you’ll never tire of the expression.

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A Testimonial

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